Iron cross-tie



(No Model.)

J; PARR.

IRON (moss TIE.

No. 277.333. Patented May 8,1883.

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29333333813; amw gww UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN FARR, OF HUMBOLDT, NEBRASKA.

IRON CROSS-Tl E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 277,333, dated May 8,1883.

' Application filed December 29, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, JOHN PARR, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Humboldt, in the county of Richardson andState of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inIron Cross -Ties and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figuresof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in iron rail-supportinggirders or crossties for railroads, the object of my improvements beingto provide a simplified and novel locking mechanism, whereby the railsmay be readily secured to said cross-ties or detached therefrom in thequickest and best possible manner, without the aid of spikes usuallyemployed for such purpose; and it consists, essentially, in the detailsof construction and general arrangement of parts, all as will behereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of myimprovements; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section, and Fig. 3 atransverse section thereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

A represents the cross-tie, which is made of metal, preferably ofcast-iron, and has flaring sides a, merging into the sli gh'tly-rounding top b, as shown in Fig. 3.

The bottom 0 of the tie is flat and closed, as shown, and at each end isprovided a deep recess, d, which opens outwardly, and also connects witha hollow space, 6, through the center of said tie.

At each end of the tie, and adapted to fit smoothly within the recess d,is provided a sliding clamping-block, B, each having aninward-projecting and beveled end, 9, which enters the space 0 until thetwo ends connectand overlap each other a short distance, as fully shownin Fig. 2.

At the outer ends of the blocks B, and cast solid therewith, is providedthe overlapping projection-h, adapted to snugly fit over the flanges ofthe rail on the outer side, while a removable clamp, i, is provided uponthe opposite side, to fit over the flanges of the rail on the innerside. The lower part of this removable clamp is adapted to pass downwithin the recess d in the ends of the tie, and, being provided at itsbase with a projecting lug, it,

engages with a slot, 1, in the sliding block B in such manner that whenthe said block is pushed inwardly the lug catches under the edge of saidslot to firmly secure the clamp i in a vertical position, with itshead-overlapping the inner flange of the rail.

Upon the inner ends of the clamping-blocks B are provided openings m,which come into juxtaposition with a vertical opening, a, in the centerof the cross-tie, when the blocks are pushed in place, for engagementtherewith of a suitable coupling pin or bolt, 0, to securely hold theclamping mechanism in place upon the flanges of the rails, as fullyshown in Fig. 2.

The bottom of the coupling pin or bolt 0 is provided with a suitableopening, 0, for the introduction of a wire or split pin to keep the saidbolt in its place.

By means of my improvements the rails may 'be readilysecured to theties, and as readily removed therefrom when it is desirable to turn thesame or replace worn rails by new ones, obviating the disadvantagesconsequent upon the use of spikes or such removable clamps as have to besecured in place by bolts and nuts.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new and usefulis-- 1. The herein-described metallic cross-tie A, provided with therecesses d and e, and central opening, a, in combination with thesliding clamps B, having lugs h and slots land an, removable clamps 6,having projections 7c, and the pin or bolt 0, having opening 0 in itsbase, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a metallic cross-tie, the sliding clamps B, provided with openingsm and slots 1, removable clamps 1, provided with lugs k, and central pinor bolt, 0, in combination with the recessesd and hollow space 0 in saidtie, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN FARR.

Witnesses PETER F. THIEssEN, E. A. TUCKER.

